NFL Notebook: Here’s pass rusher who could help Texans

We’re going to cover a lot of ground here, beginning with prospects at the East-West Shrine Game at Robertson Stadium.

Some of them may fit what the Texans are looking for. We’ve also got some Texans tidbits and then some news about former Oilers as well as observations on Sunday’s games and everything happening around the NFL.

One of the many things I love about the draft is getting to hang out with scouts and coaches. I used to cover the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., the host that was the most fun of all. Senior Bowl officials allow the media to go anywhere scouts and coaches go, unlike the scouting combine in Indianapolis, where we’re not invited to watch all the workouts every day unless we want to turn on the NFL Network in the media room.

I’m glad the East-West Shrine Game was moved to Houston. I was able to go to practice two days rather than three, but it was fascinating talking to scouts and coaches from around the league. I asked their opinions on defensive ends and running backs who might fit the Texans’ one-cut system.

I’ll be stunned if the Texans don’t use their first-round pick and another selection on pass rushers. I think they’ll use a fourth- or fifth-round pick on a back who fits Alex Gibbs’ system. I didn’t ask the scouts about a defensive end worthy of the 15th pick in the first round — just who impressed them at the East-West practices.

Of the scouts and coaches I asked, all mentioned San Jose State defensive end Jarron Gilbert. He’s listed at 6-5, 280. He’s not the prototype edge rusher the Texans need to complement Mario Williams, but as a senior this season, he had 9&frac12; sacks and led the nation with 22 tackles for loss. In other words, he likes to fire off the ball, get up the field and be disruptive in the backfield. That’s how Texans defensive coordinator Frank Bush wants his linemen to play.

At the end of the season, Gilbert was projected as a third-round pick. He’s the kind of prospect whose stock can shoot up with impressive workouts before the draft. He’s got ideal size. His father played for the Saints. His position coach, Joe Salave’a, played defensive tackle for the Titans. I’ll keep you posted on him as I hear more from scouts and coaches.

By the way, Texas A&M defensive end Michael Bennett impressed the scouts, too.

Ross D. Franklin: Associated Press

Like Gartrell Johnson’s form? NFL teams might like it, too.

The running back who was mentioned most was Colorado State’s Gartrell Johnson. Texans fans might as well pencil him in. He played with Gary Kubiak’s two sons, Klint and Klay, at Colorado State. Kubiak loves players from that program.

Johnson, 6-0, 227, rushed for 1,476 yards and scored 12 touchdowns last season. He also caught 32 passes. He was described to me as a “strong, powerful, physical, one-cut type with good hands.”

Other backs who impressed the scouts were TCU’s Aaron Brown and Boise State’s Ian Johnson. Also, most of the scouts and coaches I spoke with said to keep an eye on USC linebacker Kaluka Maiava. He’s listed at 6-0, 230. The scouts said he’s fast, instinctive, anticipates well, beat everybody he went against and made a lot of plays.

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DENVER CONNECTION: As I wrote Tuesday, I expect the Texans to name David Gibbs as their defensive backs coach any day. He visited this week. For those of you who get hysterical every time coach Gary Kubiak and general manager Rick Smith hire someone with Denver connections you should be used to it by now.

Gibbs is the son of Alex Gibbs, the assistant head coach/offense. The younger Gibbs coached the Broncos’ defensive backs for four years and the Chiefs’ secondary for three years. He also was a position coach at Colorado, Oklahoma and Kansas as well as the defensive coordinator at Minnesota and Auburn.

By the way, I’m happy for Jon Hoke and Jethro Franklin after their moves. They were fired by the Texans after the season with defensive coordinator Richard Smith. Franklin returned to USC, where he’ll coach the defensive line. He was the line coach for the Trojans before going to the Buccaneers and Texans. Hoke was hired by Lovie Smith to coach the Bears’ defensive backs. I imagine Smith will land on his feet as a linebackers coach.

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BAD INFORMATION: I was wrong in something I told you in our Tuesday chat. I said running back Steve Slaton was the second Pro Bowl alternate behind LaDainian Tomlinson and had a good chance of going to Hawaii. Tennessee running back Chris Johnson was the only rookie to make the team. He suffered an ankle injury in the playoff loss to Baltimore. I can’t imagine he’ll play in the game. Tomlinson has a groin injury. I can’t see him playing, either.

Here’s where I blew it. Buffalo’s Marshawn Lynch is the first alternate, not Tomlinson. Even though Lynch missed the Bills’ last game because he was hurt, I’m told he’s healthy now. Nothing’s official, however, until the NFL confirms it.

Tight end Owen Daniels is the first alternate at his position. San Diego’s Antonio Gates also has been injured. He played hurt. If he pulls out, Daniels is in. Receiver Andre Johnson and defensive end Mario Williams were voted as starters.

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HISTORY REPEATS: After the 2000 season, the Titans lost at home to Baltimore in the playoffs. Tennessee defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was hired by the Bills as their head coach.

Last week, the Titans lost at home to Baltimore in the playoffs. Tennessee defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was hired by the Lions as their head coach.

Titans coach Jeff Fisher has two candidates to replace Schwartz. Dave McGinnis, assistant head coach/linebackers, is a former head coach and defensive coordinator. Chuck Cecil, who coaches defensive backs, is expected to become a coordinator at some point.

Speaking of Williams, he accepted a job as the Saints’ defensive coordinator the day before Detroit hired Schwartz.

“The biggest thing for me was an opportunity to coach someplace where they score a lot of points,” he said. “I think that’s a fantastic thing. I think the defense here has excellent potential to improve, and I know the organization has the right attitude to make that happen.”

When he was Washington’s defensive coordinator under Joe Gibbs, Williams was able to play the blitzing style he loves. In his one season under Jack Del Rio at Jacksonville, Williams coached the system Del Rio preferred.

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YOUNG TO REMAIN BACKUP: Tennessee quarterback Kerry Collins’ contract expires. The Titans hope to sign him to a new deal. Collins doesn’t want to sign unless he’s guaranteed of being the starter going into next season.

Gregory Shamus: Getty Images

Vince Young may have to wait awhile for his next start.

Expect Collins to sign and be the starter going into the season. Young will serve as the backup again. Young’s contract is cap friendly in 2009 but takes a big jump in 2010 when they’ll have to decide if they believe he’s capable of being a starter again.

The fact that the Titans are trying hard to re-sign Collins tells you what they think of Young as a starter after his first three seasons in the NFL.

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THE LAST HOUSTON OILER: If the Eagles defeat the Cardinals and advance to Super Bowl XLIII, I’ll be doing a story on offensive tackle Jon Runyan. He’s the last active Oiler in the NFL. He was a rookie in 1996, their last season in Houston. Runyan played his first four seasons with the Oilers/Titans before signing with Philadelphia as a free agent and becoming one of the league’s best right tackles.

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FREE AGENCY BEGINS: For those of you wondering, free agency begins Feb. 27. Barring a new collective bargaining agreement, which won’t happen any time soon because the NFL Players Association hasn’t even hired a new full-time executive director to replace the late Gene Upshaw, this will be the last year without a salary cap.

Without a new deal, in 2010 players won’t be eligible for free agency until they’ve been in the league for six years rather than the current four. If no deal is done by 2011, the NFL is headed for its first strike since 1987.

One of the problems is that the high-revenue owners — Bob McNair, Jerry Jones, Dan Snyder, Robert Kraft and Jeff Lurie — have to subsidize lower-revenue teams. Then they may watch those low-revenue teams spend more on signing bonuses than they do in free agency.

Here’s another reason they want change: When the Colts won the Super Bowl, they got money from the high-revenue teams. When they played in the RCA Dome, which had the smallest capacity, the Colts qualified for revenue from the owners making the most out of their stadium deals.

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OPEN TALK: In case you missed it, here’s this week’s live chat:

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ON THE WAY TO GREEN BAY: The Rams looked for a reason to retain Jim Haslett as their coach, but losing their last 10 games didn’t bode well for their former defensive coordinator who had been elevated to replace Scott Linehan.

Haslett was officially eliminated from head-coaching consideration Thursday, and he immediately jumped to the front of Green Bay’s candidates to become defensive coordinator. When Haslett was the Saints’ head coach, Mike McCarthy was his offensive coordinator. It seems like a natural fit for them to be reunited with the Packers.

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OWENS ON HIS WAY OUT: Mike Lombardi broke the story on the NFL Network this week that the Cowboys are seriously considering dumping receiver Terrell Owens. ESPN jumped on the story, too. Owens is due a roster bonus of $3.1 million in June.

Lombardi, a long-time NFL personnel man, most recently with the Raiders, also writes for nationalfootballpost.com, a site creative by former Packers executive Andrew Brandt. Lombardi and Brandt get a lot of good information about the NFL.

Jerry Jones has said that cutting Owens would be too big of a cap hit. It would cost them about $10 million to get rid of him. But sometimes, there can be addition by subtraction, even if a team has to take a cap hit. (Here’s more on Owens from Bloomberg Radio.)

Roy Williams can replace Owens. If Owens returns, it’ll be hard for them to co-exist with tight end Jason Witten, who is Tony Romo’s best friend and favorite target. One or more of them is destined to be unhappy again.

I’ve spoken to several in the Cowboys organization who believe Felix Jones will beat out Marion Barber and become the starting running back. Nothing against Barber, they say. They just believe Jones can become a superstar.

But, unfortunately for the Cowboys, there’s still only one ball.

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SHREWD MOVE: New Denver coach Josh McDaniels was wise to retain running backs coach Bobby Turner. He’s been with the Broncos since Mike Shanahan was hired in 1995. Turner is regarded as one of the best coaches at his position. He’s been responsible for all those 1,000-yard backs who helped Denver rank among the league leaders in rushing every season except this one when they had seven backs on injured reserve.

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SHRINE GAME: The showcase is set for Robertson Stadium on Saturday. Here’s the video preview with Phillip Hunt of UH:

DIFFICULT DECISION: Arizona quarterback Kurt Warner has the Cardinals one victory shy of their first Super Bowl. He threw for 4,583 yards and 30 touchdowns this season. He led them to playoff victories over Atlanta and Carolina. He turns 38 in June. And his contract expires.

Despite his age, Warner may draw interest from teams like Minnesota, Chicago and Tampa Bay. Do the Cardinals ante up and sign him to a multiyear deal at his age, or do they let him leave and commit to Matt Leinart, who’ll enter his fourth season?

One thing Warner should keep in mind: Like St. Louis, which had Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce, he’s blessed with outstanding receivers in Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin. Along with Steve Breaston, he’s got three 1,000-yard receivers who helped make him look real good at a time in his career when just about everyone had written him off.

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ODDS AND ENDS: The Titans’ top priority is to re-sign defensive tackle Albert Haynesworth, who becomes an unrestricted free agent on Feb. 27 . . . The Bills were 1-8 against 3-4 defenses and 6-1 against 4-3 defenses . . . Dom Capers, who worked with New England’s defense/secondary last season, isn’t expected to be back . . . Shawn Slocum, son of former Texas A&M coach R.C. Slocum, is going to coach the Packers’ special teams. He’s been on the staff for the last three seasons . . . The Cardinals ranked last in rushing, but in their last three games against Seattle, Atlanta and Carolina (all victories) they’ve rushed 114 times. They still averaged the fewest rushing attempts (21.2) in regular season . . . Philadelphia wide receivers caught 197 passes, the most since Andy Reid became the head coach.